OptRx Crop Sensors (Optimum Prescription)

Comparison of OptRx and farmer flat rate

2008 Field Testing Flat rate = 50 Lbs of N/ac OptRx prescribed passes Flat rate = 50 Lbs of N/ac OptRx prescribed rate and farmer’s flat rate alternated across entire field

$.60 per lb N and $4 per bushel corn Crop sensor rate and farmer’s flat rate alternated across entire field Iowa – Field 1 - $41.00/ac more than flat rate – Field 2 - $24.00/ac more than flat rate – Field 3 - $100.00/ac more than flat rate Missouri – Field 1 - $75.00/ac more than flat rate – Field 2 - $120.00/ac more than flat rate – Field 3 - $15.00/ac more than flat rate Crop Sensor vs. Flat N Rate

$.50 per lb N and $3.50 per bushel corn Crop sensor rate and farmer’s flat rate alternated across entire field Iowa – Field 1 $21.96/ac more than flat rate – Field 2 $47.38/ac more than flat rate – Field 3 $62.82/ac more than flat rate – Field 4 ($1.09)/ac less than flat rate – Field 5 $15.03/ac more than flat rate Crop Sensor vs. Flat N Rate

Missouri – Field 1 $14.09/ac more than flat rate – Field 2 $4.41/ac more than flat rate – Field 3 $7.09/ac more than flat rate – Field 4 $11.32/ac more than flat rate – Field 5 $26.78/ac more than flat rate – Field 6 $33.03/ac more than flat rate – Field 7 $35.27/ac more than flat rate – Field 8 $3.81/ac more than flat rate – Field 9 $2.70/ac more than flat rate – Field 10 $25.89/ac more than flat rate – Field 11 $41.69/ac more than flat rate Crop Sensor vs. Flat N Rate

Missouri – Field 12 $22.19/ac more than flat rate – Field 13 $33.54/ac more than flat rate – Field 14 $45.00/ac more than flat rate Kansas – Field 1 $11.82/ac more than flat rate Louisiana – Field 1 $2.68/ac more than flat rate Crop Sensor vs. Flat N Rate

List Pricing $3000 per sensor $1500 per master module (1 per system) Recommend 5 sensors for 80 foot or wider boom Recommend 3 sensors for less than 80 foot swaths

Obstacles (corn market) Corn farmers generally don’t believe there is anything wrong with their current flat rate N program. – Must prove sensors are better than their current N program – 2 years of good results before they start to trust it Application timeframe – Limited timeframe with toolbar because corn must be at V4/V5. – Longer timeframe with self-propelled applicator because of higher clearance.

How do we convince farmers their flat rate program is deficient? Farmer education Organic matter argument